Manually operated toggle acting switch having a padlock receiving locking member

ABSTRACT

A manually operated switch having a toggle lever actuating mechanism and a locking member which will prevent actuation of the switch when the member is held in a locking position by a padlock. The locking member is arranged to move the toggle levers and a start button of the switch to an OFF operating position when the locking member is moved to the locking position and to be moved to an inoperative position when the start button and the toggle levers are moved to the ON operating position.

United States Patent inventors Jordan F, Puetz; 2,943,162

Don J. Arneberg, both of Milwaukee, Wis. 2,983,799 5/ i961 Osieja et al. 200/42 T Appl. No. 9,204 3,2 14,530 l0/l965 LTharp et al. 200/42 T Filed Feb. 6, [970 3,320,395 5/1967 De Smidt... 200/172 A X Patented Nov. 30, 1971 3,408,466 l0/l968 Palmer 200/42 T square Company Primary Examiner Robert K. Schaefer Park Ridge Assistant Examinerwilliam J. Smith An0meysHarold Rathbun and William H. Schmeling MANUALLY OPERATED TOGGLE ACTING SWITCH HAVING A PADLOCK RECEIVING LOCKING MEMBER 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. I

1.8. T, ABSTRACT; A manually operated switch having a toggle 200/172 A lever actuating mechanism and a locking member which will Int. Cl H0lh 9/28 ptevent t tip of th switch when the member is held in a Field 0 Search 44, l ki iti by a adlock. The locking member is ar- 50 1 172 ranged to move the toggle levers and a start button of the References Cited switch to an OFF operating position when the locking member is moved to the locking position and to be moved to an in- UNITED STATES PATENTS operative position when the start button and the toggle levers 2,484,424 l0/i949 Rosing 200/172 X are moved to the ON operating position.

58 e4 4 IO 56 n2 26 0 44 no PATENTED unvso ISTI -FIG.6,

, INVEN'IIOR. JORDAN F. PUETZ DON J. ARNEBERG I 'II/ I! MANUALLY OPERATED TOGGLE ACTING SWITCH HAVING A PADLOCK RECEIVING LOCKING MEMBER This invention relates to an electricswitch and is more particularly concerned with a structure which will permit a toggle acting type switch to be locked in a preselected operating con-- the electric motor. On occasion it may be necessary to service i or adjust the apparatus driven by the motor during periods when the motor is deenergized. To accomplish the service or adjustment of the apparatus with safety. manual starters are frequently provided with some type of lockout which will prevent the starter from being operated to a circuit closing position to prevent damage to the machinery being 'serviced or adjusted and injury to the personnel performing the'work. The present invention is directed to the simple. inexpensive lockout structure which may be readily incorporated into a toggle acting type manually operated motor starter. The lockout structure. when incorporated into the starter. will maintain the operating button as well as the levers'of the toggle mechanism from being moved to an ON switch position when the lockout structure is held in an operative position by a padlock and will automatically move to an inoperative position when the padlock is removed and the switch operating button is moved to an ON circuit position. Further. the lockout structure is arranged so that when the .-lockout mechanism is moved to its operative position, the button as well as the lever of the toggle mechanism will automatically move to an OFF circuit position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operated toggle acting type electric switch with a structure which will prevent the contacts of the switch from being operated to a circuit closing position.

Another object is to provide a manually operated toggle acting switch with an inexpensive lockout structure which will prevent the switch from being operated to 'a circuit .closing condition when the structure is physically maintained in an operative position by a separate locking device. such as the shackle ol'a lock. and will automatically move to a deactivated position when the lock is removed and the switch is actuated to a circuit closing condition.

A further object is to provide a manually operated toggle acting switch with an inexpensive lockout structure which will cause the levers of the toggle mechanism and the operating lever or buttons of the switch to move toan OFF switch posi tion when the lockout structure is moved to an operative position and will be moved by the levers of the toggle mechanism to an inoperative position when the levers are moved to the ON switch position.

Further objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawing illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which: I

FIG. I is a front plan view of a switch incorporating a lockout structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in cross section of the manually operated switch shown in FIG. I with the cross sectional portion of the view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a top end view partlyin cross section with the cross section portion taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. illustrating the toggle mechanism and a lockout structure for the toggle mechanism for the switch in FIG. I.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing in perspective the components of the lockout structure incorporated into the switch in FIG. I. I

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the positions of the toggle levers. the operating buttons and the lockout structure in an operative position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5. showing the lockout structure in an inoperative position and the operating buttons and toggle mechanism for the switch in an ON position.

' opposite sides of a center line 30. The stationary contacts 28 A switch 10. as shown in the drawing, includes an upper section or housing I2 and a lower section or base l4 which are securedtogether. The switch 10 is more fully described in an application for US. Pat. Ser. No. 9203. which has been filed by the inventor Jordan F. Puetz concurrently herewith and has been assigned to the assignee of the present application. As disclosed in the Puetz application. the base 14 is arranged to be mounted on a vertical panel, not shown. and includes a pair of sections I6 and 18 each of which is suitably compartmented. The compartments within the section 16 are each arranged toinclude a solder type current responsive unit that has a heater element connected in series with a circuit to be monitored and a ratchet wheel which is held stationary when the current flow through the heating element does not exceed a predetermined value and which is released to rotate upon excessive current flow through the unit. The release of the ratchet wheel will cause any one of a plurality of sliders. not shown. to move within the section I6 and thereby move a leverand slider. not shown. to cause a disengagement between a hock 20 on the release lever 22 and a hook 24on a trip lever 26; The compartments within thesection I6 each include a pair of stationary contacts 28 that are spaced e'quidistantly on are electrically connected to terminal-members 32 of switch I0 as disclosed in the Puetz application, supra.

The housing 12 provides an enclosure fora cavity 34. A movable contact carrier 36. which is positioned within the cavity 34. is suitably guided by portions of the housing I2 to move in a linear path along an axis that extends through the center line 30. The movable contact carrier 36 provides a support for movable contacts 38 which are arranged to engage and bridge the respective pairs of stationary contacts 28 within the-compartments In the base 14. The carrier 36 is movable between the position wherein the movable contacts 38 are separated from the stationary contacts 28 to a position wherein the movable contacts 38 bridge the stationary contacts 28 so as to complete a circuit therebetween. The movement of the contact carrier 36 is caused by the actuation of a toggle mechanism 40 which causes the movable contact carrier 36 to move against the force of suitable springs. not shown. which react upon a stabilizing bar 42 in a manner described in the Puetz application when the movable contacts 38 are moved to a position wherein the stationary contacts 28 are engaged by the movable contacts 38.

The toggle mechanism 40 which is positioned within the cavity 34 includes the trip lever 26 as well as a toggle lever 44.

an operating lever 46. a toggle spring 48, and a means for moving the operating -.lever 46 which in the embodiment shown includes an OFF-RESET button 50 and an ON button 52. The housing I2 provides a support for a main pivot 54 of the toggle mechanism 40.

The operating lever 46 and the trip lever 26 are rotatable I about the main pivot 54 and have arm portions extending in opposite directions from the pivot 54. The portion of the trip lever- 26 extending to the left of the pivot 54 in FIGS. 5 and 6 carries the hook 24. The portion of the trip lever 26 extending to the right of-the main pivot 54 includesan auxiliary pivot 56. The operating lever 46, which has arm' portions extending. in

opposite directions from the main pivot 54. has a pin'58 secured on an end of the arm portion extending to the right of the main pivot 54. The OF F-RESET button 50 and ON button 52 are respectively secured through a slotted connection.- not shown. with pins that are respectively carried on the arm portion: of the operating lever 46 to the left and right of the main pivot 54 so that the buttons 50 and 52. which are suitably guided for vertical movement by portions of the housing I2.

will cause .the operating lever 26 to move in a clockwise direction when the ON button 52 is depressed and in a counterclockwise direction of rotation when the OFF button 50 is depressed. j

The operation of the toggle mechanism 40 is as follows. The levers of the toggle mechanism 49 are shown in the OFF- RESET condition in FIG. 5 wherein engagement between the hooks 20 and 24 causes a spring, not shown, to be compressed and the trip lever 26 to be maintained against a clockwise rotation and positions the TRIP lever 26 so that the auxiliary pivot 56 is located above a center line 62 extending through the main pivot 54. The button 50, which has been previously depressed, positions the operating lever 46 so the pin 58 is located above the center line 62. The toggle spring 48 has its opposite ends connected between the pin 58 and a pin 64 that is carried on an end of an arm portion of the toggle lever 44 on the left side of the pivot 54. The position of the pin 58 above the center line 62 causes a line of centers between the pins 58 and 64 to be disposed above the center line 62 so that the toggle spring 48 causes an end on the toggle lever 44 to be positioned on the auxiliary pivot 56 so that the pin 64 is above the center line 62 and an actuating portion 66 on the toggle lever 44 is positioned so that the movable contact carrier 36 is moved relative to the base 14 by springs, not shown, to a position wherein the movable contacts 38 are separated from the stationary contacts 28. When the toggle mechanism 40 is in the OFF position, a stop carried by the toggle lever 44 engages an upper edge on the trip lever 26 to prevent further movement of the toggle lever 44 and the operating lever 46 by the toggle spring 48.

The toggle mechanism 40 is moved from the OFF-RESET position shown in FIG. to the ON position shown in FIG. 6 by depressing the button 52. The depression of the button 52 causes the operating lever 46 to rotate about the pivot 54 in a clockwise direction so that the pivot pin 58 is positioned beneath the center line 62 which causes the line of centers between the pin 58 and the pin 64 to be disposed beneath the center of the pivot 54 whereby the toggle spring 48 causes the toggle lever 44 to rotate about the auxiliary pivot 56 and position the pin 58 below the center line 62. The movement of the toggle lever 44 causes the actuating portion 66 to move toward the base 14 and the movable contact carrier 36 to move the movable contacts 38 into an engagement with the stationary contacts 28 as the movable contacts 38 compress the springs 68 which engage the movable contacts 38. The movement of the levers of the toggle mechanism 40 is limited by a stop that is carried by the trip lever 26 which engages an upper surface portion on the toggle lever 44 when the toggle mechanism is in the ON position.

In the event of an excess current flow through any one or all of the overload elements in the section 16, the levers of the toggle mechanism 40 will automatically move to the TRIPPED position as follows. When the toggle mechanism 40 is positioned in the ON position. the spring, which biases the TRIP lever 26 in a clockwise direction of rotation, will be compressed, pins 58 and 64 will be located below the center line 62, and the auxiliary pivot 56 will be positioned above the center line 62. The contact carrier 36 will be positioned by the portion 66 so that the stationary contacts 28 are bridged by the movable contacts 38. An excess current through any one or all of the overload elements will cause the release lever 22 to rotate in a clockwise direction of rotation. The lever 22 carries the hook 20 so that the rotation of the lever 22 causes the hook 20 to rotate clockwise and release the hook 24. The release of the hook 24 permits the TRIP lever 26 to be rotated in a clockwise direction to a TRIPPED position. During the rotation of the TRIP lever 26 to the TRIPPED position, the auxiliary pivot 56 will pass through a line of centers between the pins 58 and 64 to a position below the center line 62. The movement of the auxiliary pivot 56 to the TRIPPED position causes the toggle spring 48 to supply a force which rotates the toggle lever 44 in a clockwise direction and the operating lever 46 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to a neutral position wherein the position of the operating lever 46 will cause the buttons 50 and 52 to be positioned so that their top surfaces are aligned in a single plane and visually indicate from the exterior of the switch that the components of the switch 10 have responded to an overload condition. Also, when the toggle mechanism 40 is in a TRIPPED position, the portion 66 will be in a fully retracted position so that the contact carrier 36 is moved to a position wherein the movable contacts 38 are separated from the stationary contacts 28.

AFter the switch 10 has responded to an overload current condition, the components of the switch may be restored to the OFF-RESET position as follows. As previously indicated, the switch 10 will respond to an overload current condition and cause the buttons 50 and 52 to be aligned. The depression of the OFF-RESET button 50 from its aligned position with the button 52 will cause the operating lever 46 to rotate ina counterclockwise direction and cause the pin 60 on the arm portion of the lever 46 to the left of the pivot 54 to engage the upper surface of the. trip lever 26 and move the trip lever 26 in a counterclockwise direction of rotation to the RESET position. The lever 26 has portions thereon, not shown, which are arranged to engage portions on a slider 70 which is part of the overload detecting means in the base 14 and move the slider 70 to reset the overload detecting means, as described in the Puetz application. In the event the solder in all of the overload elements within the section 16 has been solidified, so that the ratchet wheels will no longer be free to rotate, the slider 10 will bemaintained in its RESET position so that a spring, not shown, will move the release lever 22 to a position which will permit the hook 20 to engage the hook 24 and maintain the trip lever 26 in the RESET position, as previously described. In event the ratchet wheels are not held fixed, as may be caused when the device is prematurely reset, the release of the operating OFF-RESET button 50 will cause the slider 70 to move the release lever 22, as previously described.

The switch 10 includes a lockout means for preventing movement of the button 52 and the levers of the toggle mechanism 40 to the ON position and the movable contacts 38 from completing a circuit through the stationary contacts 28 when a padlock is used. The means 80 includes a slide member 82, a stop member 84, an O-ring 86,.and a cylindrical member 88, which are most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. The slide member 82 extends through a pasage in the housing 12 to provide a portion 92 that is disposed to the exterior of the switch 10 and a portion 94 that is disposed within the cavity 34. The portion 92 has a free end formed to provide a handle 96 which will limit the movement of the slide member 82 inwardly in the passage 90 and be used as an area of purchase to facilitate the outward movement of the slide member 82 in the passage 90. The portion 92, which is exposed when the slide member 82 is moved outwardly in the passage 90, also includes an opening 98 which is arranged to receive the shackle of a lock or the wire of a seal, not shown, which will prevent the slide member 82 from moving inwardly in the passage 90 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. The portion of the slide member 82 extending in the passage 90 is provided with a notch 100. Positioned within the notch so as to be compressed between the walls of the notch 100 and the walls of the passage 90 is the cylindrical member 88. The member 88 is formed of a compressible elastomeric material and is dimensioned so that the cylindrical member 88 is slightly compressed between the walls forming the passage 90 the notch the notch I00 to provide a rolling contact with the walls of the passage 90 as the slide member 82 is moved inwardly and outwardly in the passage 90 and thus frictionally maintain the slide member 82 in any position to which it may be manually moved. The portion 94 is provided with an opening 102 and a pair of notches 104. The stop member 84 is provided with a tongue I06 and notches 108. The notches I04 and 108 as well as the opening I02 and the tongue 106 are arranged so the stop member 84 is maintained assembled on the portion 94 when the tongue 106 is positioned in the opening 102 and the O-ring 86 is received in the notches 104 and 108 to maintain the assembly between the stop member 84 and the portion 94. The stop member 84 includes an angle portion providing a stop surface 110 which is located to be in the path of movement of a portion 112 on the arm on the operating lever 46 extending to the right of the pivot 54.

The lockout means 80 is positioned in an inoperative position when the slide member 82 is manually moved inwardly in the passage 90 so that the handle 96 engages a front surface of the housing 12 and the stop surface 110 is located so that it will not be engaged by the portion 112 on the operating lever 46 when the operating lever 46 is moved to the ON position by depressing the start button 52. Thus when the lockout means 80 is positioned as in FIG. 6, it will not interfere with the operation of the ON or OFF buttons 50 and 52 and the movement of the levers of the toggle mechanism 40 which in turn cause the movement of the movable contact carrier 36. The lockout means 80 is positioned in an operative position shown in FIG. 5 by moving the slide member 82 within the passage 90 so that the portion 92 is exposed to the exterior of the switch 10. If the button 52 and the levers of the toggle mechanism 40 are in the ON circuit position when the lockout means is moved from the inoperative position to the operative position, the STOP surface 110 will engage the portion 112 and move the operating lever 46 and the ON button 52 to the OFF position. The movement of the operating lever 46 will cause the pin 58 to move from its position below the center line 62 to a position above the center line 62 so that the toggle spring 48 will move the toggle lever 44 in a manner identical to the movement which occurs when the stop button 50 is depressed. When the lockout means 80 is in the operative position, the opening I02 will be exposed to the exterior of the switch so that the shackle of a padlock may be inserted through the opening 98 to prevent the lockout means 80 from being moved to the inoperative position. In this connection it should be noted that the opening 98 is preferably located in the portion 92 so that the stop surface 110 is located to be engaged by the portion 112 and thus prevent rotation of the operating lever to a position wherein the pin 58 is beneath the center line 62 as long as any portion of the opening 98 is exposed to the exterior of the switch 10. This arrangement will permit the lockout means 80 to be employed with locks having a shackle which is approximately the diameter of the opening 98 as well as wire seals which have a much smaller diameter than the opening 98 and thus prevent the movement of a slide member 82 when only the portion of the opening 98 adjacent the handle 96 is prevented by a thin wire. When the elements such as a shackle of a lock or the wire of a seal are removed from the opening 98, so that the lockout means 80 is free to be moved to the inoperative position, a depression of the button 52 and the rotation of the operating lever 46 to the ON position will cause an engagement between the portion 112 on the operating lever 46 and the STOP surface 110. The movement of the operating lever 46 to the ON position will cause the lockout means 80 to move to the inoperable position where it is concealed and will not obstruct the access to the button 52. It is obvious that the lockout means 80 can also be moved from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 by merely applying a manual force to the handle 96 while the STOP button 50 is in the depressed position and the levers of the toggle mechanism 40 are in the OFF position. Thus the lockout means 80'can either be manually moved to the inoperative as well as the operative positions, or will move automatically to the inoperative position when the button 52 is depressed.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In an electric switch, the combination comprising:

a switch housing having an internal cavity and a front wall closing a front end of the cavity, a contact carrier movable between two positions in the cavity wherein a pair of contacts of the switch are in a circuit opening position when the carrier is at a first of the two positions and the contacts of the switch are in a circuit closing position when the carrier is at a second of the two positions, a toggge operating mechanism positioned within the cavity by t e housing, said operating mechanism including a main pivot, an operating lever having a central portion rotatable on the main pivot and a pair of arms extending in opposite directions from the central portion, a member having a portion extending externally of the housing through an opening in the front wall connected to the operating lever within the cavity for rotating the arms of the operating lever in one direction about the pivot in a path from an OFF position to an ON position when a manual force is applied through the member to the operating lever from the exterior of the housing, a toggle lever rotatable about an auxiliary pivot between a deactivated position and an activated position within the cavity, said toggle lever having a portion engaging the contact carrier for moving the carrier from the first position to the second position when the toggle lever is moved from the deactivated to the activated position, a toggle spring having its opposite ends connected between the toggle lever and the operating lever, said toggle spring providing a connection between the operating lever and the toggle lever for moving the toggle lever with an overcenter toggle action from its deactivated position to its activated position when the arms of the operating lever are moved from the OFF to the ON position and for maintaining the toggle lever in its deactivated position when the arms of the operating lever are at the OFF position, and a movable stop member having a first portion within the cavity positioned in the path so as to be engaged by a portion on one of the pair of arms of the operating lever for preventing rotation of the operating lever from the OFF position to the ON position when the stop is at one position and a second portion extending through an opening in the front wall, said second portion of the stop member having an opening therein which is arranged to receive a shackle of a lock to prevent movement of the stop from the said one position to a second position wherein the first portion of the stop is positioned out of the path of the said one arm of the operating lever.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the stop member extends into the path of movement of the said one arm of the operating lever so the stop member is moved by the operating lever when the operating lever is moved to the ON position and the second portion of the stop member is free to move to the second position.

3. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second portions of the stop member are two separated parts that are held assembled by an O-ring.

4. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the opening in the front wall through which the second portion of the stop member extends is a passage and the stop member is maintained against movement in the passage by a cylindrically shaped elastomeric member that is positioned between the wall of the passage and the second portion of the stop member.

5. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein the second portion of the stop member includes a notched portion which receives the cylindrically shaped member. 

1. In an electric switch, the combination comprising: a switch housing having an internal cavity and a front wall closing a front end of the cavity, a contact carrier movable between two positions in the cavity wherein a pair of contacts of the switch are in a circuit opening position when the carrier is at a first of the two positions and the contacts of the switch are in a circuit closing position when the carrier is at a second of the two positions, a toggle operating mechanism positioned within the cavity by the housing, said operating mechanism including a main pivot, an operating lever having a central portion rotatable on the main pivot and a pair of arms extending in opposite directions from the central portion, a member having a portion extending externally of the housing through an opening in the front wall connected to the operating lever within the cavity for rotating the arms of the operating lever in one direction about the pivot in a path from an OFF position to an ON position when a manual force is applied through the member to the operating lever from the exterior of the housing, a toggle lever rotatable about an auxiliary pivot between a deactivated position and an activated position within the cavity, said toggle lever having a portion engaging the contact carrier for moving the carrier from the first position to the second position when the toggle lever is moved from the deactivated to the activated position, a toggle spring having its opposite ends connected between the toggle lever and the operating lever, said toggle spring providing a connection between the operating lever and the toggle lever for moving the toggle lever with an overcenter toggle action from its deactivated position to its activated position when the arms of the operating lever are moved from the OFF to the ON posiTion and for maintaining the toggle lever in its deactivated position when the arms of the operating lever are at the OFF position, and a movable stop member having a first portion within the cavity positioned in the path so as to be engaged by a portion on one of the pair of arms of the operating lever for preventing rotation of the operating lever from the OFF position to the ON position when the stop is at one position and a second portion extending through an opening in the front wall, said second portion of the stop member having an opening therein which is arranged to receive a shackle of a lock to prevent movement of the stop from the said one position to a second position wherein the first portion of the stop is positioned out of the path of the said one arm of the operating lever.
 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the stop member extends into the path of movement of the said one arm of the operating lever so the stop member is moved by the operating lever when the operating lever is moved to the ON position and the second portion of the stop member is free to move to the second position.
 3. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second portions of the stop member are two separated parts that are held assembled by an O-ring.
 4. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the opening in the front wall through which the second portion of the stop member extends is a passage and the stop member is maintained against movement in the passage by a cylindrically shaped elastomeric member that is positioned between the wall of the passage and the second portion of the stop member.
 5. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein the second portion of the stop member includes a notched portion which receives the cylindrically shaped member. 